The ride from UVic to Oak Bay takes about 10 minutes and covers 4 km. A standard rideshare is about $13 at normal demand, and the likely range is $11 to $15.
The estimate and its demand levels
We built the number from average rideshare rates in Canadian dollars: a base fare of $2.50, $1.15 per kilometre, $0.35 per minute and a $2 booking fee. Four kilometres and 10 minutes come to $10.60 before the booking fee, which rounds to about $13 in total.
Busy demand moves the price to about $15, very busy to about $18 and a peak to about $23. These are our estimates from average rates and not Uber’s own prices. The real upfront price is the one in the Uber app.
Other ride types cost a few dollars more on a short trip. Expect about $15 for Comfort, $17 for XL (up to 6 seats) and $26 for Premier.
Taxi and getting picked up
What to ask a taxi company
There is no published taxi tariff we could check for this area, so we do not have a meter estimate. Phone for a quote instead. The numbers are 250-886-6066 for Uptown Taxi, 250-383-7111 for Victoria Taxi and 250-386-7766 for Esquimalt Saanich Taxi. A meter fare does not cover waiting time or extras, so the amount you pay may be a little higher.
The regional minimum fare is $6.03, which matters only for very short rides. A 4 km trip sits well above it.
Pickup tips at a university
Campuses have many buildings and several places a driver might stop. Look at the pickup pin in the app, and put the exact building or street address in your request. If you are with other people, agree on one spot so the driver does not wait for two groups.
Prices in the app can rise when many people leave at the same time, so a short wait may bring the fare back down. If you carry a bike or large items, message the driver first to ask whether they fit. For an accessible vehicle, book ahead with a taxi company rather than relying on the app.
Because the trip is only 10 minutes, the booking fee of $2 is a noticeable part of the total. It stays the same whatever the demand level, so the difference between the standard and peak prices comes from the multiplier on the metered part alone.